Palin Ditches Bethlehem Trip at Last Minute

Palin ends 2-day Israel visit, promises longer return trip
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 22, 2011 1:42 AM CDT
Palin in Israel: Bethlehem Trip Aborted at Last Minute
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin arrives at the Western Wall tunnels in Jerusalem's Old City, Sunday, March 20, 2011.    (AP Photo/Daniel Bar On)

Sarah Palin aborted a trip to Bethlehem at the last minute yesterday, according to the Telegraph, which suggests some not-so-wise men among her advisers could be to blame. The city of Christ's birth was meant to be her first stop of the day, according to a leaked copy of her schedule, but her car only got as far as the first Israeli checkpoint outside the West Bank city before doing a quickie U-turn and heading back.

Israeli officials confirmed that Palin's team didn't make a formal request to visit the West Bank, and it's not clear whether her advisers were aware that Bethlehem isn't in Israel. She spent most of the day visiting other Christian sites before having dinner with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Palin and her husband—who visited the Wailing Wall on Sunday—are due to leave Israel early today. She has promised to return soon for a full week, reports the Jerusalem Post. (More Bethlehem stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X